Eric Oxley

OXLEY ERIC WILLIAM OXLEY, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away due to complications from surgery on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at the age of 85 years. Eric was born on June 4, 1930 in Wallace, Nova Scotia to Murdock and Althea Oxley. Eric will be lovingly remembered by his wife Jane, his children: Patty (John) Schooten of Diamond City, Terry (Greg) Czech of Nisku, Randy (Debbie) Oxley of Lethbridge, David Oxley of Stirling, Shelley (Rick) Adamson of Stirling, and Greg (Jessica) Oxley of Raymond; 17 grandchildren: Shane (Kristin) Schooten, Michael (Tiffany) Schooten, Cody (Kristi) Schooten, Justin (Kayla) Schooten, Pamela (Mark) Kupecz-Cook, Kyle Kupecz (Sariah Nilsson), Mickenzie Czech, Tyler Czech, Lacey (Chris) Slomp, Logan Oxley (Marie Schussler), Bailey Oxley, Reese Oxley, Brittney Adamson, Brady Adamson, Connor Wedel-Oxley, Rylyn Wedel-Oxley, and Brenan Wedel-Oxley; and great grandchildren: Gracen, Berkley, Georgia, Walker, Paisley and Rhett Schooten; Salem, Connor and Liam Cook. Eric will also be remembered by brothers: Gary (Muriel) Oxley of Ontario, Phillip (Carolyn) Oxley of Ontario, Gerald Oxley of Wallace, Nova Scotia, and Wayne Oxley of Taber, Alberta; sister Kelly (Carl) Morrison of Wallace, Nova Scotia; brothers-in-law: William (Bev) Firth, Gary (Dianne) Firth, Henry Lewicki, and Jack Grattan; sister-in-law Huguette Firth, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents; brothers Arnold (Irene) Oxley, and Aubrey (Gertha) Oxley; sisters Helen (Doug) Langille, Shirley Oxley and Lorraine Grattan; in-laws Frank (Gwen) Wilk, Ed Firth, Phyllis Lewicki; Jane's parents Chris and Kit Firth; and son-in-law Robert Kupecz. Eric grew up during the depression. He was the eldest of 11 children. He left school early to help support the family by fishing, working in the bush camp, and farming till he left for Ontario to work in the tobacco fields along with some of his brothers and cousins. He also worked with teams of horses in the bush and the selkie racing horses. In 1952 he left for Alberta for further adventures working as a lease rider and then in road construction all over Alberta. Eric met his wife Jane Firth while working in Taber and they married the following year on March 29, 1958. They lived in numerous places while working construction till finally they settled in Stirling, Alberta in November 1967 where he lived until his passing. He worked for the county of Warner until his retirement and for a short period of time as a public works foreman for the Village of Stirling. First and foremost his love was his family, and he spent many hours with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved fishing, hunting, camping and the Blue Jays ballgames. The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, STIRLING CHAPEL. Friends may meet the family prior to the service from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Interment to follow in the Stirling Cemetery.

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